Latch and operating assembly for hospital doors and the like



July 23, 1968 M. c. STEBBINS LATCH AND OPERATING ASSEMBLY FOR HOSPITAL DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS July 23, 1968 M, C, STEBBlNs 3,393,934

LATCH AND OPERATING ASSEMBLY FOR HOSPITAL DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 4, 196e 2 sheets-sheet 2 g 38 l r 34 s ./m

2840 I, 2e 24 52 2z FIG. 5

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INVENTO'R. MARK C. Sfeems ysmw, M M was@ ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,393,934 LATCH AND OPERATING ASSEMBLY FOR "HOSPITAL DOORS AND THE LIKE Mark C. Stebbins, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Mark C. Stebbins & Sons, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 570,355 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-92) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Door pull 34 is laterally yieldably connected to door by resilient hinge strap 40 and has a finger 50 operatively engaged with latch actuator 24. Hinged pressure bar 60 has a cam 72 engaged with actuator 24 at a location spaced from linger 50 to prevent interference therebetween upon lateral shifting of door pull 34. Cam 72 is vertically adjustable by means of slot and screw connection 66, 68.

Disclosure This invention, in general, involves doors of the type in hospitals and similar institutions wherein door pulls, latch-operating equipment, and the like are subject to special requirements in the interests of both safety and convenience of operation. More particularly, the invention relates to an operating assembly for such doors equipped with latches.

In general, the latch-operating equipment should be disposed fairly close to the door and have minimal outward projections which might be injurious to a person falling 'against or bumping against the door. A second requirement is that the latch-operating equipment be conveniently operable by such personnel as nurses or technicians whose hands are occupied in carrying hospital equipment or the like. Conventional door knobs and thumb pressure levers, for example, are unsatisfactory because they are difiicult to manipulate by a person whose hands are otherwise occupied. The lever type must project away from the door a suiiicient distance to provide adequate leverage for operating the latch, and the extent of this projection is objectionable because of the safety considerations mentioned.

The object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive latch-operating structure irnproved to incorporate the above requirements and to facilitate convenient operation of the latch and opening of the door from both the room side and the corridor side of the door.

In general, the invention contemplates the use on the room side of the door a hinged doo-r pull of the type which a wrist or forearm can be inserted under, this `door pull having a lever portion which projects to the door interior and is provided with means for actuating the latch-operating mechanism. On the corridor side of the door is mounted a pressure bar which can `be moved directly toward the door and which carries a cam projecting to the interior of the door also for actuating the latch mechanism. This bar is at such a height that it can be depressed by a person pushing his body against it. The cam and the mount for the pressure bar have interengageable shoulders which limit outward movement of the pressure bar so that it can be used as a handle for pulling the door closed. Other structural features are set forth below in the detailed description. One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an edge of a door equipped with a latch and operating assembly according to the invention, parts being broken away to illustrate structural details.

3,393,934 Patented July 23, 1968 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary generally elevational view on a smaller scale illustrating a portion of the door on the corridor side.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a corresponding portion of the door on the room side.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, generally elevational view illustrating certain of the parts shown 'in FIG. l but in a different position.

FIG. 5 is :a fragmentary generally elevational view illustrating certain of the parts shown in FIG. l but in a different position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary generally elevational view illustrating `an adjustable connection between a wedgetype actuator and its mount.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a door 10 having a face 12 normally disposed toward the interior of a room and a face 14 normally disposed toward a corridor or other space outside of the room. Mounted within a recess 16 in the door is a conventional latch-operating structure 18 from which a latch or bolt 20 projects for engagement with a keeper (not shown) in an adjacent door jamb. The latch mechanism includes a casing 22 which supports an exposed movable latch-actuating member 24. When this member is moved downwardly as the drawings are viewed, latch 20 is retracted by conventional interposed linkage (not shown) and when Iactuator 24 moves upwardly, latch 20 is moved outwardly by a conventional spring arrangement (not shown).

Mounted on face 12 is a plate 26 having a rectangular opening 28 through which a portion 30 of a door pull 32 projects. Portions of the door pull disposed outwardly of plate 26 denes a handle 34 which, at its lower end, terminates in an outwardly rounded portion 36 under which a wrist or forearm can be inserted.

A portion 38 of the door pull projecting into recess 16 is hinged to the linner side of plate 26 by means of a liexible strap 40 anchored to plate 26 as by screws 42 and a plate 44, and anchored to portion 38 as by screws 46 and a plate 48. p

Strap 40 is stressed to bias door pull 32 downwardly. Opening 28 is dimensioned to permit the door pull to swing toward and away from the door and also to shift laterally to a certain extent so that it is non-rigid on its mount, thereby minimizing the possibility of injury to persons falling or bumping against it. The edges of opening 28 limit the extent of movement of the door pull. This door pull is disclosed in greater detail in Stebbins 3,121,907.

Inner portion 38 of the door pull provides a lever upon which is mounted a finger 50 positioned `for engagement with an end face of latch actuator 24. This finger Amay conveniently be for-med as an extension of plate 48 as illustrated. Finger 50 engages a portion of actuator 24 adjacent one end thereof as is illustrated in FIG. 6.

A mounting plate 52 is secured over face l14 of the door. This plate has a central opening 54 within which is hinged at 56 an upward extension 58 ou a pressure bar 60. A wedge 62 is mounted on the inner face '64 of the pressure bar by means of a screw 66 extending through a slotted extension 68 of the wedge (FIG. 7) and threaded into an opening in the pressure bar as at 70 (FIG. 1).

Wedge 62 has a cam surface 72 which projects into door recess 16 for engagement with a side portion of latch actuator 24. Wedge '62 has a downwardly projecting shoulder 74 positioned for engagement against an inner surface portion 76 of plate 52 for a purpose to be described. Cam 72 is positioned adjacent the end portion of the actuator opposite to the end engaged by finger 50. Hinge 56 is positioned above actuator 24 by such a distance that movement of cam 72 toward and away from the actuator approximates a straight line.

In use, it may be assumed that door is closed with latch engaged within a keeper on an adjacent door jamb. If the door is to be opened from the room side, door pull 32 is pulled in an outward direction, either manually or by a forearm inserted thereunder. When the door pull swings outwardly, lever portion 38 thereof and finger 50 thereon move downwardly as the drawings are viewed. Finger 50thereby depresses actuator 24 causing latch 20 to retract so that .the door can be opened. When the door pull is released, it swings downwardly under the bias of strap 40 so that lever portion 38 and finger 50 thereon swing upwardly. Actuator 24 is thereby released, permitting latch 20 again to project from the door for engagement with a keeper.

Now assuming that the door is to be opened from the corridor side, pressure bar 60 is pushed toward the door either manually or by pressing ones body against it. This swings the pressure bar and cam 72 inwardly, Cam

72 depresses actuator 24 to retract latch 20. When force on the pressure bar is relieved, the spring means within latch mechanism 18 return actuator 24 upwardly and project latch 20 outwardly; and `during this movement, actuator 24 cams wedge 62 and pressure bar 60 outwardly again to the FIG. l position.

Pressure bar 60 can be used as a handle to Apull the door closed or to the right as FIG. l is viewed. Shoulders 74, 76 on wedge '62 and plate 52 respectively interengage to lim-it outward movement of bar 60 relative .to the door and thereby transmit pulling force from the bar to the door.

Because of the flexibility of hinge strap 40, door pull 32 can be shifted in a lateral direction. This results in l-ateral shifting of finger 50. The distance between finger 50 and wedge 62 is greater than the amount of this lateral shifting permitted by the side surfaces of opening 28. This feature prevents finger 50 and wedge 72 from interfering with each other under conditions where finger 5f) has been shifted toward the wedge.

During the manufacture and assembly of doors, it frequently happens that the door surfaces which vertically position latch mechanism 18 with respect to mounting plates 26 and 52 or vice versa are not accurately located according to specification. The amount of variation usually is not enough to interfere with proper functioning of finger 50 in depressing actuator 24 but more frequently is enough to cause a significant m-isplacement of wedge 62. If this should happen, screw 66 is merely loosened and wedge '62 is adjusted vertically to the proper location as facilitated by slidable engagement of slot 60 relative to the screw. The screw is then retightened to anchor the wedge lin its properly adjusted position.

I claim:

1. A latch and operating assembly for hospital doors and the like -which comprises,

mechanism including a latch, a movable member, and means effective to withdraw and advance said latch upon movement of said member in opposite directions,

a first operating means which includes a handle hinged to a first mount adapted to be fastened to a portion of a door adjacent that containing said mechanism,

said handle having a lever portion which extends to a location adjacent said movable member and which is provided with means operable to exert and relieve motive force on said member in the direction for retract'ing said latch responsive respectively to swinging of said handle away from and toward the door,

a second operating means which includes a pressure bar movably secured on a second mount adapted to be fastened to a portion of a door generally opposite to that on which said first mount is fastened,

cam means carried by said bar and positioned for engagement with a portion of said movable member displaced from said lever portion means,

said cam means being operable to exert and relieve such force on said movable member responsive to movement of said pressure bar respectively toward and away from said door, said first mount comprising a flexible strap which facilitates movement of said handle laterally of the ldirection of its hinging movement with consequent lateral movement of said lever portion means,

said means on said lever portion and said cam means bein-g spaced apart a distance greater than the extent of said lateral movement of said lever portion means, whereby to prevent interference therebetween.

2. The `assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said lever portion means engages an end face of said element and said cam means engages an adjacent side face portion of said element,

said pressure bar being hinged to said second mount at a location which is further distant from said element than the hinge connection between said handle and first mount,

said bar and cam means having -interengaged slotted means extending toward and away from said element so that said cam means can be adjustably moved relative to said element7 said bar and cam means being provided with means releasably securing said cam in adjusted position,

said cam means and second mount having aligned shoulders interengageable to provide a stop which limits outward movement of said bar relative to said second mount so that said bar serves as a handle by which to exert pulling force on the door.

3. A latch and operating assembly for hospital doors and the like which comprises,

mechanism including a latch, `a movable member, and means effective to withdraw and advance said latch upon movement of said member in opposite directions,

a first operating means which includes a handle hinged .to a first mount adapted to be fastened to a portion of a door adjacent that containing said mechanism,

said handle having a lever portion which extends to a location adjacent said movable member and which is provided with means operable to exert and relieve motive force on said member in the direction for retracting said latch responsive respectively to swinging of said handle away from and toward the door,

a second operating means which includes a pressure bar movably secured on a second mount adapted to be fastened to a portion of a door generally opposite -to that on which said first mount is fastened,

cam means carried by said bar and positioned for engagement with a portion of said movable member displaced from said lever portion means,

said cam means being operable to exert and relieve such force on said movable member responsive to movement of said pressure bar respectively toward and away from said door,

a releasable connection being provided between said cam means and bar, said cam means and bar having interengaged slotted means oriented so that said cam means can be adjustably moved toward and away from said member, said connection being tightenable to secure said cam means in adjusted position,

4. A latch and operating assembly for hospital doors and the like which comprises,

mechanism including a latch, a movable member, and means effective to withdraw and advance said latch upon movement of said member in opposite directions,

means including a handle hinged to a first mount by a flexible strap which facilitates movement of said handle laterally of the direction of its hinging movement,

means including .la pressure bar movably Secured on a second mount adapted to be fastened to a port-ion of a door generally opposite to that on -Which said lirst mount is adapted to be fastened,

said handle and pressure bar being provided respectively with means operable to exert and relieve motive `force on said member responsive to movements thereof in different directions,

said respective means being displaced from each other a distance greater than the extent of relative lateral movement thereof incidental to lateral movement of said handle, whereby to prevent interference therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 3,131,907 2/1964 Stebbins 16--110 874,793 12/ 1907 Robinson 292-93 2,479,256 8/ 1949 Radcliffe 292-3363 2,910,857 1l/1959 Muessel 70--92 l0 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primm-y Examiner.

E. I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner. 

